breeze

Where does the word "breeze" come from? It comes from Spanish briza, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).

Breeze’s story begins in Spanish: briza meant “north-east wind.” Probably the Spanish word for the north-east trade wind of the Caribbean. It reached English by 1560s as breeze. Sailors first used it for the Caribbean trade wind; by the 1620s it meant any light wind. Today, breeze means a gentle wind.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · 1500s briza "north-east wind", probably the Spanish word for the north-east trade wind of the Caribbean.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1560s breeze "gentle wind", sailors first used it for the Caribbean trade wind; by the 1620s it meant any light wind.